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Russian diplomat believes Kurds need to join intra-Syrian talks in Geneva

"This is a complicated process, it takes time", the Russian diplomat stressed
Syrian talks in Geneva Xu Jinquan/Pool Photo via AP
Syrian talks in Geneva
© Xu Jinquan/Pool Photo via AP

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. Moscow believes it necessary to engage the Kurds in the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters on Monday.

"The Kurds’ participation issue is still pressing. We believe that their representatives should be engaged (in the Geneva talks on settling the Syrian crisis," the Russian diplomat stressed.

"Everything depends on the participants’ will, and on the UN representatives, of course," Bogdanov noted adding that the work on forming delegations will be resumed ahead of the next round of talks. "I think, some conclusions will be made after the first round of talks which will end in a few days, after that, we hope that the second round of talks will begin," he said.

"This is a complicated process, it takes time, but we expect that all the remaining issues will be settled."

The Syrian constitution 

The Russian-drafted Syrian constitution is not the absolute truth but an invitation to a discussion, Bogdanov reiterated: 

"I would like to note that this document is not the absolute truth, but an attempt to unify the common approaches that the parties share," he said. 

"This document should be viewed as an invitation to a meaningful discussion between the Syrians who will have to decide the future of their country themselves."

"The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, adopted in December 2015, still remains the key element of and the internationally recognized basis for settling the Syrian crisis," Bogdanov went on to say. "It stipulates the priorities of multilateral efforts and calls for cooperation and talks between the Syrian government and all the opposition groups. The document also reflects our principal approach to the ways of solving the Syrian crisis, which remains unchanged. We believe that only the Syrian people have the right to decide their future, including the future of President Bashar al-Assad, while foreign interference is unacceptable."